The tarpon are beginning to thin off the beaches, but in about a month they should move around bridges or deep grass flats. They already have been spotted and caught around the Skyway bridge. Capt. Rick Grassett thinks snook before dawn, trout and other flats species will be good options early in the day. Capt. Zach Zacharias has noticed snook and redfish are hitting cut baits such as pinfish and ladyfish. Several captains are noticing that the fish are moving around a lot, possibly a result of big tides that lead to fish dropping off flats and into deep, cooler areas.
Sunshine Skyway Piers
Jeff Medley from the south pier said the fishing is opposite of what anglers might expect. The mangrove snapper fishing has been phenomenal on an incoming tide, with snapper to almost 18 inches. They are mostly right under the bridge. Also, the grouper bite has been exceptional on an outgoing tide. They’re hitting threadfins but have been loving medium-sized pinfish. Medley said he caught a 32-inch and 24-inch grouper in a 15-minute span. There also have been reports of cobia to 45 inches and jack crevalle to 30 pounds. The Spanish mackerel bite has not been so hot.
Terra Ceia Bay
A lot of redfish have been showing up and have been easier to spot on a low tide as it falls off from “structures” such as ledges and bars. Capt. T.J. Stewart said the snook bite has slowed for him just a bit, and the majority of snook remain off the beaches, or within a couple hundred yards of passes. Trout fishing has been fair as well. Capt. Ray Markham hit several spots in and around Terra Ceia Bay for snook, trout, redfish, mangrove snapper, jack crevalle, ladyfish, pinfish and puffers. He was throwing all artificials. Markham started fishing just before sunrise, catching snook with top water plugs and then went on the outside of the bay for trout to 23 inches on She Dog’s, C.A.L. shads and D.O.A. combos.
Manatee River/ Lake Manatee
Look for snook around bridges in the river and possibly small tarpon in canals by the I-75 bridge. The Upper Manatee River is ripe with channel catfish. Capt. Mike Senecal said the fishing at Lake Manatee last weekend was awful in bluebird skies. He had been getting hits when there were overcast skies. If you’re heading to Lake Manatee to fish for speckled perch, fish deep. Fish sun-up, sun-down or at night. Use dark baits when fishing deep. Senecal has been using 10-pound PowerPro and a 10-pound leader with a small sinker.
Tampa Bay
Capt. T.J. Stewart said tarpon showed up at the Sunshine Skyway on Thursday, where clients hooked eight between 20 and 120 pounds.
Anna Maria Sound/Palma Sola Bay
Capt. Zacharias said trout action slowed, which is usually the case mid-summer with very hot water temperatures. The best time to target trout is at first and last light or under the lights of bridges, piers and docks. When targeting trout in the daytime, look to much deeper than normal areas abutting grass flats. Redfish have been scattered and ranging in size.
Sarasota Bay
Capt. Rick Grassett reported bluefish and Spanish mackerel while fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Also, the deep grass flats near Buttonwood Harbor had been holding trout to 22 inches, bluefish and Spanish mackerel hitting Clouser flies, D.O.A. combos and C.A.L. jigs.
Longboat Pass
Snook are off the beaches, and as usual, mangrove snapper are everywhere on structure, and even off the pass on surrounding grass flats.
Beaches & Gulf
Capt. Zacharias said a couple of forays out to structure in 40 to 50 feet of water off Anna Maria and Longboat Key produced Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, grouper, average sized cobia, sharks and barracuda.
Lake Manatee/ Braden River
Capt. Doc Lee said bass are along the lily pads and are hitting anything white at daylight. Catfish can be had on small pieces of uncooked saltwater shrimp on the bottom, especially around aerators. There are some big speckled perch along the shorelines that are hitting small june bug-colored flies and small jigs.
Myakka River State Park
Look for bluegill to be the best bet.
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